Until We All Fall Down Chapter 2, Unforeseen, a naruto fanfic

Until We All Fall Down

XxMookinexX

I do not own Naruto or any of its characters, I only wish I did. Any and all unrecognisable characters and situations belong solely to me and are not to be touched without permission. I am not making any money off of this and I write with the soul purpose to entertain.

This story takes place when our characters are 18/19 and takes account of everything up to chapter 337 of the manga. Written in Ino's POV.

VOILA! Chapter two of WAFFLES (which is my short name for this fic for no good reason other than UWAFD looked like WAFFLES to me… and I'm insane), and it's on time too! HELL YEAH! Anyways… read on! (Does strange hand wavy thing and disappears off screen chibi-style)

Oh yeah! (poofs back on screen) Special thanks to Itsumo Neko, Katar and liltle who all reviewed last chapter! thank you (awards each with metaphorical cookies before poofing away again).

– Chapter Two –

Unforeseen

I should have seen this coming.

Even though that would have been impossible, considering…

But I should have guessed it was coming.

After all, everyone knew that the fifth Hokage had shortened her life-span to save Naruto back in the day. The story had become a wide-spread rumour, common knowledge amongst the ranks. How it had leaked out, no one was sure. Apparently Naruto had been unconscious at the time… but somehow, somehow it had. Underneath that genjitsu mask Tsunade-sama was almost 80 years old; instead of the 30-year-old glamour she wore to conceal it.

And now… she was dying… and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Not even her own (nor Sakura's) medical-jutsu could extend a life. She was facing old age, and despite all her strength, she was going to wither and die. She'd led Konohakagure through the war, a miracle defeat, saving so much blood shed on our side. And after she'd accomplished so much, all that the Konoha shinobi could do for her was make her comfortable and try to delay the inevitable.

'We're pathetic.'

Angrily I lashed out at the wooden post in front of me.

'We're all so damn pathetic…'

Again and again I sent my fists sailing into that training post, trying to ignore the sting as I ripped fresh cuts into the skin covering my knuckles.

Once upon a time I would have cared more about this… my mum always says that I should take good care of myself, and delectate hands are a sign of beauty. Working at the flower-shop, day after day, I dutifully donned those gloves to protect that beauty – continuously complaining if a single scratch appeared on my skin.

It's pathetic really - I mean, what did I expect? Working in a flower-shop, training to be a kunoichi… there are things you have to sacrifice. With the minimal effort I put in, it was highly possible that I'd get hurt… or possibly scarred.

How many years of my life have I wasted thinking about how pretty I could be… how many times have I dieted to make myself seem attractive? And after all that I did, even so, I still didn't catch Sasuke's attentions, not even once. And Sakura, shy, big forehead Sakura…

But I'm being bitter, aren't I?

And it's not as if I'm really that depressed about that… it's just…

It's easier to take my anger, my feelings of insecurity, and blame her for them.

And why do I feel so bad…?

…Because yet again I'm useless - completely, and utterly useless.

It doesn't matter that there are other people in the same situation… that no-one knows what to do – that doesn't matter to me.

I promised myself when I started training to become a medical ninja… I promised that I'd never feel that way again. That's the reason that I pushed myself so hard. That I trained to better myself… It's the reason I picked myself up when I fell down, exhausted, to continue struggling again.

So, to end up here, despite all that I've trained so hard to achieve…

I hate it.

I really, absolutely detest it.

"HA!" I shouted, smashing my fist one last time into the wood ahead of me. I paused, panting slightly, feeling the sweat trickle down the side of my face.

"Useless," I muttered, pulling back to gaze numbly at the blood on the backs of my hands. I sighed, and allowed my gaze to drift upwards again, then smiled ever so slightly as I saw the crack I'd forged into the wood due to my constant assault.

Taijutsu.

I've been practicing it a lot recently. Sometimes Lee comes and spars with me. Other times I travel to this training ground on my own, usually at dawn so that I can practice without distractions. But this is only possible when I don't have missions that take me out of Konohakagure.

Like today.

Still… I'll admit it that it's a little weird for me to be doing taijutsu training when ninjutsu is my speciality, but sensei once told me that to become a great ninja, you need to develop all of your skills. Sometimes I feel like I neglect that aspect of my training. I focus too much on my mind or medical jutsus. If my body deteriorates now, because I've lost focus of that in my pursuits of other interests, it means that all-in-all I'll be a burden.

And if that happens…

If I ever thought that way…

How should I put this? My confidence… it took a severe blow when I lost Asuma-sensei. Over the years, somehow, I pulled myself back up out of the depression I locked away in my chest, and I adjusted. But recently… what with Sasuke and Sakura… and yet again with Tsunade-sama's declining health – it seems like I'm lining myself up to lose it again. That's why… if I really started to think that I was weighing down my team mates as well… I don't think I could possibly be me anymore.

Yamanaka Ino is very… full of herself.

So if I lost my confidence…

Who would I be? - I don't want to become that person.

I refuse to become lost in self-doubt. That's not something I do. I won't do it.

I'm only 19. I have the rest of my life to live first! I don't have time for something like that. So I figured that I should stop that happening at all costs and that if I want to improve myself, now would probably be the best time, when I'm not tied down by anything. While we still live in peaceful times.

"What are you doing?"

I didn't hear him come up behind me, which only added to my injured pride.

"Training," I replied stiffly, trying to bury the emotions that had been swirling around me so freely before his arrival. You would think that at dawn perhaps I would find some peace to indulge in my thoughts but apparently not. I sighed and turned to face him, forcing myself to be calm. It was bad enough to be having these thoughts without someone like him being able to read it in my eyes. "I couldn't sleep."

"Ino… I can tell when you're lying."

"I'm sure you can, Sasuke," I replied, yawning slightly. "But that's the answer I'm sticking to."

2 weeks have passed since that day. I feel like I have become a very different person since then… or perhaps I'm just too tired to see things clearly anymore. I don't know.

"-right?"

"Hmm?" I queried, tilting my head up and a little to the side so that I could see him properly with both of my eyes as my fringe fell away from my face. "What was that?"

"I asked are you alright?" he said again.

I blinked.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

"Sakura says you're not talking to her as much anymore… I'd say you were ignoring her, but you look pale and there are dark circles under your eyes. You seem to have lost some weight, also. Have you been working yourself too hard, again?"

I smiled slightly, "Tell Sakura not to worry about me. I'll be alright."

"That doesn't answer my question," he muttered, frowning and crossing his arms over his chest.

"No," I mused, allowing myself to act more natural again. "It doesn't, does it?"

He glared at me, so I could tell that I'd pissed him off, which, let's be honest, was sort of the point. What's a day when you can't piss off someone who just rejected you? Still… I stared resolutely, and very dryly, back at him.

"To be honest, Sasuke, it's not your business. If I have problems there are other people I'd feel more comfortable discussing them with. Besides that, I'm sure you wouldn't wish to be bothered by them, considering as how I managed to annoy you for most of our childhood together." I sighed again and blew some of my fringe out of my eyes.

"Sakura… she's my best friend. That sort of thing lasts a long time. It won't die out because of a boy. We were always friends, even though we decided to be rivals - even then we still cared for one another. But I've never really been that close to you, have I? I suppose because you had better things to do than make friends when you were smaller. When you left, I thought a lot about it… and it seemed as if you hated us… scorned our very existence because you thought you were better than us. You mellowed out a lot when you were with team 7, which I think had as much to do with Naruto as Sakura, if not more so… but even then, it's not like you ever really let anyone in. So, what do you expect me to say at this point? We're all a lot older, and a little bit wiser, and we've gone through our fair share of hell… but that's it. That's where the line ends between you and me."

I chewed on my lip thoughtfully, ignoring the slightly stunned expression on his face. Perhaps I could read his emotions if I looked into his eyes, but he'd only do the same back to me…

"Sasuke," I continued, running a hand through my pony-tail. "You're always going to be that kid I looked up to and admired when I was small. But I'm not that little girl anymore. I'm a fully-fledged kunoichi now, and I'm not going to dance on your every whim, so back off. You're Sakura's boyfriend - that's all you'll ever be to me from now on. If you wanted more, you've missed your chance, but that's okay, because I don't think you ever really did. But to expect me to tell you my problems after everything that has happened… don't you think you're over doing it? We're not going to be friends now. We're never going to be friends. My mind doesn't work that way. I thought you understood that. But apparently not. You don't understand a lot about girl's feelings, do you, Sasuke? So I'll make this clear for you." I straightened up and looked straight into his eyes.

"I don't hate you." His eyes widened, but I marched on nonetheless. "I'm not bitter about the way things turned out, although I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little hurt. But when Sakura said that, I thought that would be the end of it. I don't really want to see you around very much… but if I do, I want things to remain civil between us, because it would hurt Sakura if I decided to loathe you, and it would hurt me if I decided to be friends with you. So that's it, okay? Can you leave me alone now? It's the least you could do to make up for everything that you've done to me."

He was silent, so I shook my head and walked back to the main part of Konohakagure again. I'd finished training anyway, but it would have been nice to star-gaze and sort my thoughts out a little bit. Shikamaru always used to make me do that with him when we were younger. I miss him, but he's off with Naruto on a mission in Sunakagure right now.

That's right, of course…

They must be telling the Kazakage about Tsunade-sama's condition. Usually it's not the sort of thing we would admit to another country, but Sunakagure has been allied with us since before the war against the Akatski. And it doesn't hurt that the current Kazakage is one of Naruto's best friends. Not that I'm at all envious of that. I mean, Gaara's younger than me by a year, and he has all that pressure resting on his shoulders. I wouldn't be able to deal with that myself. But, I guess that's just another way in which he's similar to Naruto, since Naruto aims to be Hokage. He probably will be too, since he's surpassed even the Fourth Hokage in his skill as a shinobi. I just hope he learns to be less reckless… it's that sort of behaviour that can get in the way of your dreams.

I sighed for what seemed like the fiftieth time so far that night and gazed blearily upwards only to blink in surprise. My feet have navigated me on auto-pilot to Chouji's door. I smiled slightly and let myself in, making sure to be quiet enough to not wake up any visitors he might have over… well, you never really know, I mean, he is 19, almost 20 now. Last year I ended up accidentally sleeping in Kiba's bed when he'd been staying over. Chouji had almost skinned him when he found us the next morning before I got a chance to explain the situation. God that had been embarrassing… especially as Kiba then assumed I had a crush on him and wouldn't stop harassing me for weeks.

My cheeks flushed at the memory as I found my way through the dark twilight zone that was Chouji's bedroom. His floor was like a constantly fluctuating war zone. It was perfectly spotless on some days, not a single oddity in sight, and then the next it would be littered with debris. He still ate a lot, I guess. But it's so much a part of him now that I'd be severely worried if he ever stopped.

"Chouji?" I whispered, kneeling next to him in the dark. "Hey, you awake?"

One eye flickered open, then a small smile crossed his face and he shuffled sideways to make room for me. I grinned and immediately slid in to join him, silently revelling in the warmth and comfortable smell of him. My eyes fluttered closed as I curled up against him. His breath tickled my neck and his arms held me in a comfortable embrace. Slowly, I found myself being lulled off to sleep…

Sunlight is a cruel mistress.

Somehow even the smallest amount of sunlight possesses the ability to wake me. But I'm a very light sleeper. Most shinobi are. I crept out from between the sheets and made my way to Chouji's kitchen. The least I could do is make him breakfast in thanks. I froze half way through beating eggs to listen to the sound of the front door opening. Chouji isn't up yet, I'm sure he would have greeted me first, even if he did have a mission or something this morning… He always tells me these things. Soft foot-falls made their way across the corridor and I frowned. No, Chouji didn't make sounds when he was walking, which was strange, really, considering that you would expect someone who was built like him to make more noise, but he's always been quite graceful for being so large. Even so, I recognise that irregular set of footsteps. There was something about them which made it seem like they were sauntering… maybe slouching.

"Chouji?" the kitchen door slid open as I turned, recognising the voice. Well, that makes sense. Even though he's tried to grow up and take more responsibility over the last few years, it wouldn't erase an entire child-hood of procrastination.

"Shika-kun?" I blinked, but smiled, placing down the bowl of eggs. He walked in, frowning slightly at my appearance – possibly something to do with the orange apron with sunflowers on it I was currently wearing. "When did you get back?" I asked, crossing to him and welcoming him back with a hug before turning back to my cooking.

"Just now," he replied, glancing back over his shoulder. "Is Chouji up?" I shook my head.

"He's still sleeping," I stated, throwing him a reproving glance over my shoulder. "You should know by now that he doesn't like to get up until the absolute last minute he possibly can."

"Hmm… I just wanted to spend some time with him, considering…" He trailed off, shoving his hands into his pockets. I paused mid-stir to frown at him.

"Don't tell me you have another mission already? You only just got back."

"It can't be helped. Apparently I'm still assigned to be Temari's guide whenever she's in Konohakagure."

"Temari-san's here?" I queried, blinking in surprise. Then I grinned, "So in other words, you get to spend quality time with your girlfriend and neglect your best friends as a result?"

He looked at me dryly and my smile faded.

"I know," I murmured. "I shouldn't make fun of you. You have a hard enough job on your hands trying to convince the Hokage to let you date her without me adding to your stress."

He sighed and I busied myself with the eggs again. Because she's from outside the village… even though we are on good terms with Sunakagure right now, if anything did happen, it would cause severe problems. But you can't help who you like, I suppose, and now that he's a jounin, Temari's happy to be seen to go out with him.

Suddenly something hit me.

"Shika, if you're here, is Naruto back too?"

"Hmm?" He paused in rubbing the back of his head to blink at me. "Yes, we both got back this morning, along with Temari and the Kazekage." My eyes widened and I almost dropped the bowl I was holding.

"Sabaku no Gaara is visiting Konohakagure?" I asked, shocked beyond belief. He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Is that a problem?" I blushed at the faint accusatory tone in his voice. He'd become much more over protective of Gaara as of late, although that probably had something to do with the fact that he was courting Gaara's sister.

"No," I said clearly, trying to explain myself. "I'm just surprised that he had the time. Surely now that he knows about Tsunade-sama he has a lot more work on his hands… after all, the truce with Sunakagure might not last if we get a 6th Hokage who for some reason doesn't like them."

Shika smiled. "I don't think that'll be a problem. Besides, Kankurou is more than enough to help keep the village in order whilst Gaara's away."

"Hai," I muttered. Although I had my doubts about that puppet-master, I kept them to myself. After all, Kankurou was Temari's other sibling, so Shika was just as likely to get grouchy about any insults directed his way as Gaara's.

"Oi…" We turned to see a happily smiling Chouji enter the room. "Something smells good."

I found myself laughing, despite myself.

So, chapter two. Did you like? Review and tell me what you think of it so far. I'm hoping that maybe Gaara will actually… you know… appear and possibly even talk next chapter. That might be a good starting point, yeah? Originally I was going to rush straight on with the storyline I have set up, but then I couldn't resist having that lovely scene at the end with Chouji and Ino and Shika. They have such a good group dynamic, don't you think?

Updates should be hopefully every Monday. See ya then!

Luv ya

XxMookinexX